Limited US Airstrikes Authorized in Northern Iraq

On August 7, President Obama announced from the White House that, in light of the plight of the Yezidi refugees on Sinjar Mountain, and the advance of ISIS onto the Ninewa Plain toward Erbil, he has authorized American airstrikes specifically in support of humanitarian relief operations for the Yezidi refugees, and to protect American personnel at the Consulate in Erbil as well as the Embassy in Baghdad. He stressed that any airstrikes would only happen if those conditions were met, and further stressed that there will be no further American boots on the ground. He reiterated the position that “there can be no American military solution,” and that only an Iraqi political reconciliation could stop what is happening.

The Kurds claimed that the US launched airstrikes on August 7, but the State Department has denied any such strikes occurred. It is possible that the strikes being reported were Turkish, as BAS News reported that eight Turkish aircraft from Dyarbikar Airbase that had been monitoring the situation near Gweir and Makhmour had been tapped to begin bombing Thursday night.

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About the Author

Peter Nealen is a former Reconnaissance Marine and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006, and again in 2007, with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Recon Bn. After two years of schools and workups, including Scout/Sniper Basic and Team Leader's Courses, he deployed to Afghanistan with 4th Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, I MEF. He is now the author of the military thrillers Task Force Desperate, Hunting in the Shadows, and Alone and Unafraid. His latest American Praetorians thriller, The Devil You Don't Know, is now available on Amazon.

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LadyHW

Looks like the Sunni tribal groups in West Iraq are offering a deal with new Iraqi PM. ISIS has overdone their violence -- and sunni tribes starting to fight back?
At an emergency EU meeting in Brussels, the 28 member-states were left to decide individually whether they would arm Iraq's Kurds, the main opponent of IS in the north.
Separately, fighting has flared up in mainly Sunni Anbar province, west of Baghdad, parts of which have been under IS control.
FYI: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28808992

JHR

Txazz From what I have gathered- These reports of baghadi circulated around July 4th. He was seen (and authentically verified) a giving prayers in public (unheard of) days later. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/07/05/Video-purportedly-shows-extremist-leader-in-Iraq.html
Many rumors fly around about these tings. we need concrete evidence.

JHR

Txazz Interesting article on ISIL funding. If their leader is killed, they will go on. Financially solvent. http://www.rand.org/blog/2014/08/hitting-isis-where-it-hurts-disrupt-isiss-cash-flow.html

JHR

Txazz Txazz...My sources don't say that- still researching. Here is transcript. Excuse poor translation.
urgent
"Baghdadi" to Syria for fear of the American bombing
.After the fall of a large number of leaders in the battles of "Peshmerga"
Sources: escape, "Baghdadi" to Syria for fear of the American bombing
.. Thursday, 18 September 1435, corresponding to 14 August 2014
Agencies (Urgent)
Forced American planes, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant "Daash" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the escape from Mosul in Iraq on his way to Syria, fearing that the targets of bombing American organization after he lost a large number of leaders in the battles with the Peshmerga forces.
The newspaper quoted "Middle East" (Thursday, August 14, 2014) from the Kurdistan Democratic Party official in Nineveh Mmousine happy, saying that "Baghdadi" left Mosul on his way to Syria a few days ago, accompanied by 30 military vehicle of the type "Hammer."
In the same context, informed sources from within the connector that the organization "Daash" kill all the men Yazidis trapped in villages south of Sinjar, after the end of the ultimatum for them to convert to Islam, and revealed entry militants "Daash" to villages Yazidi that they had identified her a deadline to convert to Islam, and they after killing the men that raped their wives and daughters, then killed the elderly women and girls and children were taken to Mosul.
The sources added that the organization is open to volunteer for youth in Mosul, and joined them a number of young people, was sending a large number of them to areas of the island in Syria for the war, pointing out that it has the endorsement of "Daash" being relocated to areas near Mosul Others Verslon to fighting in Syria, after military training for three days in the Canadian camp in Mosul.
On the other hand, the Peshmerga Ministry announced yesterday or the arrival of a batch of French military assistance to the Kurdistan region, and added that the past few days have seen an influx of weapons from a number of countries to the region without referring to these countries.
[Transmission via e-mail]
Urgent electronic

JHR

LadyHW Txazz Hiding is what they do best, Blending comes second nature.